New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 8 - SOCIAL SERVICES
Chapter 26 - FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION
Part 6 - COMMUNITY HOME LICENSING STANDARDS
Section 8.26.6.18 - STAFFING REQUIREMENTS

Universal Citation: 8 NM Admin Code 8.26.6.18

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 6, March 26, 2024

A. Minimum staff: Community home staff shall include, at a minimum, an administrator and a supervisor. The administrator may also fulfill the role of supervisor, provided the person meets the minimum qualifications for the higher position.

(1) Administrator: The administrator shall work in the community home's New Mexico office.

(2) Clinical supervisor: Each community home shall have access to a licensed clinical supervisor for the purpose of evaluating the behavioral health needs of its clients. The clinical supervisor shall make faced to face contact with clients when delivering services to clients. The clinical supervisor shall be licensed by the state of New Mexico as a:
(a) licensed psychologist or psychiatrist;

(b) social worker licensed at the master's level (MSW);

(c) licensed professional clinical mental health counselor (LPCC); or

(d) licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT).

B. Staff to client ratio: Community home staff and volunteers who work directly with clients, as outlined in Subsection A of 8.26.6.17 NMAC, and who are counted in the staff-to-child ratio shall be 18 years of age or older. The community home shall maintain the following ratios:

(1) for children under the age of six years old, one staff to six children; and

(2) for children over the age of six, one staff to sixteen children.

C. References: At least three professional and character references shall be obtained by a community home for each potential employee prior to his or her employment. One of these references shall be from the previous employer or a professional colleague who has direct knowledge of the qualifications of the potential employee. Each letter of reference shall be followed up by a phone call by the agency. Documentation of references, with date and type of contact, including all telephone or in person contacts, shall be included in the employee's personnel file.

D. Employment history: A community home shall obtain a relevant employment history on each potential employee prior to employment and verify requisite experience or document attempts to accomplish such in the personnel file.

E. Staff training: All staff members of a licensed community home shall be instructed in:

(1) the definitions of abuse and neglect as defined in Subsections M, P and T of 8.26.6.7 NMAC; and

(2) the responsibility of staff to report all suspected incidents of child abuse or neglect including access to the statewide central intake hot line number.

F. First aid certification: At least one staff member who has direct contact with children shall have a current first aid certificate and a current cardio pulmonary resuscitation certification.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. New Mexico may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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